Memoirs Of a survivor

48. Recover

The nightmares started again. They weren't like last time. Somehow they were scarier, more surreal. The worst part was that the nightmares didn't always start bad; they started with happy memories of my grandma, and then slowly deteriorated into terror. On the upside, my back had healed up so I could move around, and not be in pain. I had grown tired of just laying around, and the last 3 days had been torture, and although I still couldn't sit back in a chair or lie down, I was determined to make it to the gym. I had been practicing running, and stretching over the past few days, but it wasn't calming me the same way a training session would. Eventually, I had made the decision to go back to the gym, and let off some steam. I hadn't realized that Joe would be upset that I wasn't in school. He lectured me for at least 20 minutes about how my education would better my life and so on. To be completely honest, it was the first time I had actually felt anything other than annoyed over being kicked out of school for two weeks. Joe actually cared for me, so the disappointment that I could clearly see written on his face was the worst part. I felt ashamed.

"Well there is nothing I can do about it now, so you may as well get some kind of education" he pointed over to the bags "warm up" I gave one curt nod, glimpsing the disappointment in his eyes again, and then went to do my usual warm up. It had been about 20 minutes when Nate came over and tapped me on the shoulder beckoning me over to the mat where he and another man were waiting. I eyed the new man as Nate made the introductions "Scarlett, meet Eden, Eden meet Scarlett" the skinny man held out his fist to me, and I touched knuckles firmly in greeting. Nate carried on "I wasn't expecting her here so early, but it seems someone has been naughty and gotten herself suspended" I looked down sheepishly, as Joe shouted
"don't be congratulating her on that" I could hear the frown in his voice, but Nate ignored it "don't worry about him, it's not like he hasn't been kicked out of his fair share of schools" I heard a slight laugh come from both people stood in front of me, and looked up, slightly shocked "your related to him, I'm surprised you made it this long before you got kicked out" I smiled beginning to warm to their presence. "Anyway" Nate went on "this is Eden, and I asked him here to teach you a new style" I raised my head, with my eyes wide
"are you leaving me?" I blurted out. I had spent a lot of time with this man, and he had become very dear to me, I didn't know if I could handle another person leaving me. he smiled and shook his head
"why would you miss me" he teased, then carried on smirking at the blush covering my face "anyway, no, I just thought you would be interested in learning something new, and when you are learning" he gestured to Eden "you must learn from the best" I nodded, and took a deep breath to calm myself before joking
"are you sure I'm not just too good for you?" I smirked and raised my eyebrow "It takes a large man to admit that, I'm proud of you" I smirked and wiped a false tear from my eye as he punched me playfully on the shoulder. He turned back to Eden, and nodded to him,
"she's all yours" I calmed myself, and turned to face him as he started speaking
"Nate called me in to teach you my fighting styles, I specialize in the more brutal of the art, so be prepared to work at it" I nodded, as he carried on speaking "so you already know the easy martial arts, quite well from what I have heard about you. I am going to teach you a combination of the more brutal techniques that come from earlier times. I'll teach you how to attack without warning, new blocks and holds, firmer hits, and new footwork. It's going to be difficult, and it will take time okay?" I nodded and focused my attention solely on the man in front of me. Learning each new thing he was showing me, I was determined not to let anyone else down.